The Rundown: Trade Deadline Today — What Will Cubs Do? Castro Reportedly Being Shopped, Cubs Have Shown Interest in Yovani Gallardo
It has been a wild and crazy week leading up to the trade deadline, which occurs today at 3 p.m. Central. We’ve already seen huge pieces moved, such as Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels.
Here’s a list of some of the bigger trades made yesterday:
* In the most high-profile move, the Tigers sent David Price to the Blue Jays. After adding shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Price, the Blue Jays are going to be very fun to watch. Loads of talent on that team.
* The Dodgers, Braves and Marlins pulled off a 13-player deal. The Dodgers acquired LHP Alex Wood, RHP Mat Latos, OF/1B Michel Morse, RHP Bronson Arroyo and RHP Jim Johnson. The Braves get IF Hector Olivera, and the Marlins received three prospects.
* Carlos Gomez moves from the Brewers to the Astros, along with Mike Fiers, for prospects.
* The Reds sent RHP Mike Leake to the Giants.
* The Pirates received reliever Joakim Soria from the Tigers. It sounds like he will serve as a setup man, with Mark Melancon remaining the closer.
Expect the Cubs to make something happen, whether it’s a big deal involving many pieces from the Padres, or a couple of smaller moves that could include a bullpen piece and a back-end starter. Whatever happens, it should be fun to follow. The Cubs aren’t going to reach for anybody, so it’s possible they don’t make any “exciting” moves.
Cubs/Padres update
One major possibility for a trade partner is the San Diego Padres.
The more trades happen, the more it looks like the Cubs and Padres are ready to match up. Cubs want controllable SP, Padres need shortstop.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2015
Club executives involved in the Tyson Ross talks are convinced the #Padres will trade him by deadline, and #Cubs are pushing hard.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2015
However, the Astros may be swooping in:
Sources: Astros-Padres believed to be working on "something big." They've talked Tyson Ross and Craig Kimbrel. San Diego could use a CF.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2015
I’d be excited for the Cubs to acquire Tyson Ross, but I’m not exactly holding my breath. The Padres are going to do “something” and we’ll finally find out today what that is. At this point, it seems much more likely that the Astros would push for a trade.
They’ve already acquired LHP Scott Kazmir (who has been great for them in two starts so far) and Carlos Gomez. The Cubs aren’t going to overspend.
Castro still on the block
One name who might be involved in a deal today is Starlin Castro.
Some thought a Castro trade was off the table after Joe Maddon said he talked to his young shortstop and assured him he hadn’t been traded on Wednesday — a day Castro found himself on the bench.
However, that doesn’t mean the Cubs absolutely won’t trade Castro before the deadline. Jayson Stark tweeted yesterday that the Cubs are “aggressively” trying to deal Castro.
Castro has been awful this year, no way around it. His value is pretty low right now, so it’s very possible they don’t end up trading him after all. But San Diego seems like a possibility for sure.
Other notes
* One name we haven’t really seen connected with the Cubs is the Rangers’ RHP Yovani Gallardo. However, Jon Heyman says the Cubs have shown interest. Gallardo has been streaky this year: He got off to a rough start, the put together a long scorless streak over multiple games. And now he is currently struggling again. Gallardo could be a fall-back option if a deal with the Padres falls through.
* The Cubs and Mariners have had trade talks, according to Jerry Crasnick. No specific players have been rumored, so it’s hard to know who would be involved. The two teams have already completed a trade this year, when the Cubs sent them catcher Welington Castillo.